Brown Closing on Cy Young Award?

By LONNIE WHITE

Aug. 16, 1999 12 AM PT

With five consecutive victories, pitcher Kevin Brown is making a late run for National League Cy Young award consideration.

Brown, who improved to 14-6 with his victory over Atlanta on Saturday, ranks among league leaders in victories, winning percentage (.700), games started (26), innings pitched (183.2), strikeouts (156) and opponents batting average against (.223).

One reason for Brown’s hot stretch is that Manager Davey Johnson is more comfortable deciding whether to remove him from a game when he’s in trouble.

“I’ve learned how to read all our pitchers pretty well now,” Johnson said.

The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled again Sunday as relievers Mike Maddux, Pedro Borbon and Alan Mills each gave up walks in the eighth inning to help Atlanta tie the score at 4-4.

With the Dodgers ahead by a run, Atlanta had two outs with Gerald Williams on third before things fell apart. Maddux walked Brian Jordan, Borbon walked Brian Hunter and then Mills walked Andruw Jones in four pitches to score Williams to tie the game.

Reliever Jeff Shaw did not give up a hit in the ninth and 10th innings, but Jamie Arnold gave up two hits and the game-winning run in the 11th.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Florida Marlins, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers (53-65), Marlins (48-70).

* Record vs. Marlins--1-2.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (6-9, 5.94 ERA) vs. MARLINS’ VLADIMIR NUNEZ (4-5, 3.75 ERA)

* Update--Park gave up six runs and 10 hits in his last start and didn’t factor in the decision in the Dodgers’ 9-7 come-from-beind win at Montreal last Wednesday. Park, who has a 3-1 career record and 4.86 ERA against Florida, has given up six or more runs in six of his 23 starts this season.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Mike Judd (1-0, 5.68) vs. A.J. Burnett (0-0, major league debut).

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (9-12, 5.65) vs. Brian Meadows (10-11, 5.37).